Treatment system to prolong life of cut flowers

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to prolonging shelf life of cut flowers, especially during transport, as well as enhancing physical appearance and sensory characteristics of cut flowers, by treatment systems and devices that modify the atmosphere over a longer period of time in containers in which the cut flowers are transported or stored.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An absorbent pad that prolongs the life of a cut flower in a container used for transport or storage of the cut flower, said absorbent pad comprising:
 a top layer; 
 a bottom layer; 
 an absorbent body positioned between said top layer and said bottom layer, said absorbent body comprising a layer of an absorbent material; and 
 a first active agent and a second active agent each in said absorbent body, wherein said first active agent is a compound that is an ethylene competitor, and wherein said second active agent is a carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) generation system, 
 wherein said absorbent pad initiates release of said first and second active agents in the container upon contact with water, and 
 wherein said first and second active agents prolong the life of the cut flower. 
 
     
     
       2. The absorbent pad according to  claim 1 , wherein said layer of absorbent material is two or more tissue layers positioned adjacent to each other, and wherein each of said two or more tissue layers are a continuous layer that distributes an absorbed liquid across the axial extant thereof. 
     
     
       3. The absorbent pad according to  claim 2 , wherein said two or more adjacent tissue layers distribute an absorbed liquid between each other. 
     
     
       4. The absorbent pad according to  claim 1 , wherein said first and second active agents inhibit the effects of ethylene on the cut flower. 
     
     
       5. The absorbent pad according to  claim 1 , further comprising a third active agent in said absorbent body, wherein said third active agent is selected from the group consisting of sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ) generation system, chlorine dioxide (CIO 2 ) generation system, oxygen (O 2 ) scavenging system, oxidizing agent, and any combinations thereof. 
     
     
       6. The absorbent pad according to  claim 1 , wherein said CO 2 generation system comprises an acid and a base, and wherein said acid is selected from the group consisting of boric acid, citric acid, lactic acid, sorbic acid, acetylsalicylic acid, fumaric acid, ascorbic acid, estearic acid, and any combinations thereof. 
     
     
       7. The absorbent pad according to  claim 1 , wherein said ethylene competitor is 1-methylcyclopropene (MCP), its salts, or derivatives. 
     
     
       8. The absorbent pad according to  claim 1 , wherein said absorbent body holds a reservoir of absorbed water that is a source of water to activate said first and second active agents and is a source of water vapor that enhances the physical appearance and sensory properties of the cut flower, and prolongs the life of the cut flower. 
     
     
       9. A treatment system to prolong the life of a cut flower, said treatment system comprising:
 a container used for transport or storage of said cut flower, wherein said container can be opened and re-closed to permit ingress and egress of said cut flower in said container; 
 an absorbent pad placed in said container, said absorbent pad comprising:
 a top layer; 
 a bottom layer; 
 an absorbent body positioned between said top layer and said bottom layer, said absorbent body comprising one or more layers of an absorbent material; and 
 a first active agent and a second active agent each in said absorbent body, wherein said first active agent is a compound that is an ethylene competitor, and wherein said second active agent is a carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) generation system, 
 
 wherein said absorbent pad initiates release of said first and second active agents in said container upon contact with water to maintain the physical appearance and sensory characteristics of said cut flower. 
 
     
     
       10. The treatment system according to  claim 9 , wherein said absorbent pad in said container reduces the total amount of CO 2  required to prolong the life of said cut flower. 
     
     
       11. A method for prolonging the life and physical appearance of a cut flower in a container, comprising:
 placing an absorbent pad in the container, said absorbent pad comprising:
 a top layer; 
 a bottom layer; 
 an absorbent body positioned between said top layer and said bottom layer, said absorbent body comprising one or more layers of an absorbent material; and 
 a first active agent and a second active agent each in said absorbent body, wherein said first active agent is a compound that is an ethylene competitor, and wherein said second active agent is a carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) generation system; 
 
 placing one or more cut flowers in the container; and 
 closing the container to enclose said one or more cut flowers. 
 
     
     
       12. The method according to  claim 11 , further comprising wetting said absorbent pad by spraying water thereon prior to closing the container. 
     
     
       13. The method according to  claim 11 , wherein said first and second active agents are a combination of compounds that inhibit the effects of ethylene on said one or more of said cut flowers. 
     
     
       14. The method according to  claim 11 , further comprising a third active agent in said absorbent body, wherein said third active agent is selected from the group consisting of sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ) generation system, chlorine dioxide (CIO 2 ) generation system, oxygen (O 2 ) scavenging system, oxidizing agent, and any combinations thereof. 
     
     
       15. The absorbent pad according to  claim 11 , wherein said CO 2  generation system comprises an acid and a base, and wherein said acid is selected from the group consisting of acetylsalicylic acid, fumaric acid, estearic acid, and any combinations thereof. 
     
     
       16. The absorbent pad according to  claim 14 , wherein said third active agent is an oxidizing agent placed near said top layer of said absorbent pad. 
     
     
       17. The absorbent pad according to  claim 1 , further comprising a semi-permeable membrane positioned in said absorbent body, said semi-permeable membrane having one or more pores of a size that regulates the rate at which liquid is absorbed and distributed throughout said absorbent body.